Digital Tradition Mirror

The Blarismoor Tragedy

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
Pennywhistle notation and Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

The Blarismoor Tragedy

Oh, Lord! Grant me direction
To sing this foul transaction
WHich causes sad reflection
Late done at Blarismoor.
By wicked Colonel Barber
Should I proceed much further,
And call his conduct murder
'Twere treason I am sure.
     Belfast may well remember
     When tyrants in their splendour,
     In all their pomp and grandeur
     They hoist them on a car
     While cavalry were prancing
     And infantry advancing
     And glitt'ring armour glancing
     All in the pomp of war.

THey were of good behaviour
No heroes e'er were braver
But a perjured base deceiver
He swore there lives away
For the sake of golden store
This villain falsely swore
And the crime we now deplore
In sorrow and dismay.
     Amidst a hollow square
     Well guarded front and rear
     With guns and bayonets there
     Their constancy to move
     When they received their sentence
     Their hearts felt no relentings
     They bowed to each acquaintance
     And kneeled to God above.

Their foes held consultation
To find our combination
And then this exhortation
Curs'd Barber did propose:
"Arise from your devotion
Take pardon and promotion
Or death will be your portion
Unless you now disclose."
     Some moments then they mused
     For their senses were confused
     But, smiling, they refused
     And made him this reply:
     "We own we are United
     Of death we're not affrighted
     And hope to be requited
     By Him who rules on high."

The guns were then presented
The balls their bosoms entered
While multitudes lamented
The shocking sight to see;
THose youthful martyrs four
Lay weltering in their gore
And the plain besprinkled o'er
With the blood of liberty.
     In coffins they were hurried
     From Blarismoor were carried
     And hastily were buried
     While thousands sank with grief.
     Crying,"Grania, we much wonder
     You rise not from your slumber
     With voice as loud as thunder
     To grant us some relief."

From Irish Songs of Resistance, Galvin
note: Incident ook place on the 17 of May, 1797
RG
Apr98

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!